David Cameron: 'Thatcher made Britain great again'

Baroness Thatcher was a prime minister who made Britain great again, David Cameron told MPs today.

Speaking as Parliament was recalled so that MPs and peers could pay tribute to the former Tory prime minister who died on Monday, Mr Cameron told the Commons that Lady Thatcher was an "extraordinary woman".

She rescued Britain from post-war decline, he said, telling MPs that her policies, controversial at the time she was in government, were now accepted by politicians of all colours.

They say 'cometh the hour, cometh the man', well in 1979 came the hour and came the lady.

She made the political weather, she made history, and - let this be her epitaph - she made our country great again.

Labour leader Ed Miliband described Margaret Thatcher as a "unique and towering figure" who "defined her age" during a warm tribute in the House of Commons. Speaking in front of busy, but not packed, Labour benches he said:

"Whatever your view of her, Margaret Thatcher was a unique and towering figure.

"I disagreed with much of what she did but I respect what her death means for many, many people who admired her and I honour her personal achievements.

"Her memory will no doubt continue to divide opinion and stir deep emotion, but as we as a nation say farewell to a figure who loomed so large, one thing is for sure. The memory of her will continue undimmed, strong and clear for years to come," he said.

Thatcher's former cabinet minister Norman Tebbit paid an emotional tribute to his old boss and friend during today's Parliamentary session.

He spoke movingly of the support she provided his family after he and his wife were injured in an IRA bomb attack at the Grand Hotel in Brighton. He praised her courage and popularity, and reflected on her demise, saying:

"I left her, I fear at the mercy of her friends, that I do regret."

Glenda Jackson MP was critical of Thatcherism in her speech to the Commons. Credit: PA/PA Wire/Press Association Images

Glenda Jackson told members in the Commons she believed Thatcherism brought the "most heinous social, economic and spiritual damage upon this country, upon my constituency and my constituents."